Abu Dhabi: A decision allowing teenagers to take up part-time jobs may adversely affect efforts being made to better shape the population make-up, a member of the Federal National Council (FNC said on Tuesday.
Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a representative from Dubai, explained the decision may encourage foreigners to bring in their children to live, learn and eventually seek further rights.
The decision, which is also applicable to young Emiratis, could lead to an increase in drop-outs from schools, he said.
Al Suwaidi asked the Minister of Labour if the country is responsible for providing expatriate teenagers with education and jobs to earn their living?
Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, Minister of Labour, allayed the member's fears and said that work permits are granted to those who are already in the country and meet strict conditions.
Gobash recalled an incident when the son of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was denied the right to take up a part-time job in a company because there was no law regulating these work permits.
Students on university sponsorship can legally work part-time upon receiving a permit from the Ministry of Labour.
The new part-time work permit regulation went into effect this year and is aimed at protecting student's rights to stop employers from exploiting them, said a ministry official. It was previously illegal for students above the age of 18 on university sponsorship to take up work unless they transferred their sponsorship to their employer.
Charges: Hikes in banking fees
A member of the UAE's legislature demanded that the Governor of the Central Bank intervene to stop banks from overcharging their customers.
Yousuf Al Nuaimi, a representative from Ras Al Khaimah, complained against recent arbitrary hikes in bank fees and charges. Al Nuaimi quoted Governor Sultan Nasser Al Suwaidi as said that the Central Bank of the UAE will intervene in the determination of bank fees and commission rates as "matters are getting out of control" with banks in the country continuing to hike their fees and commission charges.
